entertainment
"All the King's Men" is a royal pain
By Josie Callahan | Sept. 29, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
It wouldn't be surprising if the Robert Penn novel bearing the same name as the film proved more impressive than the movie. But then again, it would not be a large accomplishment for a book or a movie to surpass the quality of "All the King's Men," an unimpressive movie encompassing the moral and political downfall of Willie Stark, who is based loosely off the Louisiana politician Gov. Huey Long.
"Continuum" cries foul at games of politics, love
By Elsi Wu | Sept. 28, 2006, midnight | In Music »
Clean-shaven yet adorably shaggy, John Mayer's puppy-eyed look has played perfectly into the bluesy, romantic crooner he'd always been. Until now.
"A silo of love"
By Courtney Burtraw | Sept. 27, 2006, midnight | In Music »
Masked by tents, blankets, bottles, thousands of people and a notable lack of horses, the Pimlico Race Track, home of the Preakness horse race, became unrecognizable Saturday. If not for the grandstands, a pole marked "Finish" and a dusty track encircling the festivities, this Saturday's Virgin Festival, hosted by Virgin Mobile, might have taken place anywhere. Indeed, this Saturday's agenda was far from equine, with a 14 band lineup that made the festival's American debut a rollicking good time.
"All the King's Men" fail in remake
By Gus Woods | Sept. 27, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
Without reading Robert Penn Warren's 1946 novel or seeing the original 1949 film adaptation of the book, understanding the basic plot in the most recent onscreen incarnation of "All the King's Men" is like trying to study a painting through a cloud of black smoke.
"All the King's Men" loses the crown
By Lingfeng Li | Sept. 26, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
"Time brings all things to light," says idealistic crusader Willie Stark (Sean Penn) in one of the year's earliest Oscar-contenders, "All the King's Men." But even the Academy Award-winning Penn and a slew of other Oscar nominated costars can't bring this film to life.
"Flyboys" never lifts off the ground
By Johanna Gretschel | Sept. 26, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
The year is 1917 and while the rest of the world is engaged in World War I, the United States is still clinging to its neutrality. Americans looking for a good fight have the opportunity to hold their own against the Germans by enlisting in the Lafayette Escadrille, a French squadron of fighter pilots made up mostly of American volunteers. Based on the true story of the first American pilots in the Lafayette Escadrille, "Flyboys" has the potential to soar but crashes with its weak plot and one-dimensional characters.
"Food & Liquor" is the future
By Nitin Sukumar | Sept. 26, 2006, midnight | In Music »
Sex, cash, drugs and violence. Sound familiar? Almost every successful mainstream rap album is full of them. But Lupe Fiasco is different from the mainstream. The highly anticipated album was bootlegged from Lupe's studio three months ago, giving listeners a taste of the candy. "Food & Liquor" captures everything from skateboarding to family problems with a lyrical flow Jay-Z describes as "a breath of fresh air."
A fair "Flyboys"
By Ankhi Guhathakurta | Sept. 26, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
It certainly isn't the best movie made this year. Heck, it isn't even the best movie made about planes this year (try upstaging "Snakes on a Plane"). But MGM's latest World War I epic-wannabe "Flyboys" isn't bidding for any Oscars; it just wants to have a good ole patriotic time. And, for the most part, it succeeds in doing just that.
Tyra's "next top models" are a hit
By Erica Turner | Sept. 26, 2006, midnight | In Entertainment »
"America's Next Top Model," created and produced by everyone's favorite fashion model Tyra Banks, premiered last Wednesday with a two-hour special. The seventh season began with 33 new semi-finalists, all competing for the chance to be the newest fashion model of America. The show features girls ages 18-24 who participate in a photo shoot and a fashion challenge. Judges Tyra Banks, fashion photographer Nigel Barker and fashion icon Twiggy essentially make the show with their reviews of each photo accompanied by "spontaneous" one-liners to describe each models pose. After deliberations, the judges call the girls to an elimination room where the winners are announced and one girl is sent home in tears.
"All the King's Men": royally lame
By Madeline Raskulinecz | Sept. 25, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
Fall has arrived, and with it, the onslaught of "serious" movies vying for that ultimate in film recognition: the Oscar. But one of the first and most promising-looking of this season's offerings, Steve Zaillian's "All the King's Men," is far from Oscar-worthy; with its convoluted storyline and disappointing cast, it's a royal mess.
"Fearless" excels despite flaws
By Jordan Fein | Sept. 25, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
Asthma-inflicted child trains relentlessly to prove he can fight. Resulting superhuman martial artist vanquishes all foes. Life changing event prompts re-evaluation of selfish reasons for endless violence. Fighter emerges moral and honorable, kicks butt for more socially acceptable cause.
Virgin Music Festival debuts with power-packed style
By Ashley Lau | Sept. 25, 2006, midnight | In Entertainment »
For 12 hours on Saturday, Sept. 23, the picturesque Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore was transformed into a stereo-pounding, crowd-surfing, body-pulsating celebration of music as Virgin Mobile kicked off its very first U.S. version of the massively successful U.K. Virgin Music Festival. As the product of ambitious Virgin Mobile Chairman Sir Richard Branson, the U.S. debut of V-Fest brought together over 40,000 people of all ages, races and creeds.
"Jackass Number Two" is two times as funny
By Nathan Goldstein | Sept. 25, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
Everyone pulls the occasional prank on their friends, but not as the tricksters of "Jackass Number Two" do. Their idea of a practical joke is releasing a king cobra on an encaged buddy.
"Fearless" fails
By Simon Kanter | Sept. 25, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
Jet Li is truly fearless. He has faced every kind of opponent and defeated them soundly, conquering not only his enemies but himself. But for some reason, in his latest and last film, he seems to have a strange phobia: plo
S'more cake
By Alexis Egan | Sept. 24, 2006, midnight | In Desserts »
Nearly every Blazer has had at least one chance to enjoy the sticky sweetness of a just-roasted marshmallow, the crunchy taste of graham crackers and the creamy warmth of chocolate. But for many, this taste is only available in the wilderness, where campfires are legal, or in the microwave, where the result is often explosive. Fortunately, the taste of S'mores can be easily replicated in the form of a cake. A sticky but sweet treat, the cake has the flavor of both marshmallows and chocolate, with the added zest of sponge cake. This S'more cake is a perfect way to recreate your favorite rustic treat in the warm, bear-free environment of your own kitchen.
A "Gang" worth joining
By Andrew Kung | Sept. 21, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
With any movie starring The Rock, one can expect a healthy dose of shooting, shouting, and his signature angry, bewildered stare. "Gridiron Gang," the latest from director Phil Joanou, provides the aforementioned, but packs some surprisingly emotional performances as well. Although it may seem at times to be overdramatic and sensationalized, Joanou successfully turns a beautiful story into a decent movie.
A noble and notable "Nobelity” is the change we wish to see
By Amanda Pollak | Sept. 21, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
As director Turk Pipken declares throughout his new, globally conscious documentary, "Nobelity," fixing the problems of the world may be simple, but it's not going to be easy. Likewise, buying tickets to his film may seem simple, but sitting through and fully comprehending the message of "Nobelity" is anything but easy. Nonetheless, it is not a film to miss.
"The Black Dahlia" wilts
By Cassie Cummins | Sept. 21, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
If "The Black Dahlia" were indeed a blooming Dahlia, its petals would begin to droop as soon as the poor acting kicked in. Then, after some confusing plot twists, its leaves would start to turn brown. And eventually, after being neglected by bored viewers, it would soon shrivel up into nothingness. Essentially, that's the withering tale of this Dahlia.
"The Last Kiss" is a can't-miss
By Elsi Wu | Sept. 21, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
Almost everyone has been in loveâ€"and fallen out of it. It just all depends on how hard one falls. Surprisingly, there are more ways of hitting rock bottom than most have imaginedâ€"infidelity, neglect, strifeâ€"and that's just after age 30. In this major motion picture just oozing with indie vibes, love is about more than just feelings.
Survivors separated by more than just an ocean
By Erica Turner | Sept. 21, 2006, midnight | In Television »
Suspense, alliances, drama, twists and love matches. The thirteenth season of the hit reality TV show Survivor is the epitome of drama. The show, which premiered Thurs., Sept. 14. on CBS, placed participants on the Cook Islands, which are located in the South Pacific
A forgettable "Last Kiss"
By Lingfeng Li | Sept. 20, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
Everything seems to be getting smaller these days: MP3 players, waistlines—the age at which a person is expected to have a midlife crisis. In "The Last Kiss," Michael (Zach Braff) is an almost thirty-something with a ubiquitous crisis, crises if you will. He has a beautiful girlfriend, Jenna (Jacinda Barrett), a promising career in architecture and loyal friends he's known since childhood.
He's bringing "Sexy Back"
By Johanna Gretschel | Sept. 20, 2006, midnight | In Music »
No one would accuse successful solo artist and former boy band heartthrob Justin Timberlake of low self-esteem. His new album, "FutureSex/LoveSounds," shows that J.T. is back, and just as cocky and self-assured as ever. From the first lines of his pulsating summer smash hit, "SexyBack," Justin lets us know that he's bringing sexy back—whatever that means, and providing millions with good dance music.
"Gridiron" falls short of touchdown
By Cate McCraw | Sept. 20, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
"Gridiron Gang" chronicles the transformation of troubled teens a Los Angeles juvenile detention center into young football stars, thanks to the guidance and determination of their coach, Sean Porter (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson). While the story is heartrending and poignant, the plot follows the average template for an inspirational sports film.
"The Last Kiss" is more than a peck on the cheek
By Sarah Kinter | Sept. 19, 2006, midnight | In Movies »
There is an old saying that "women remember the first kiss; men remember the last." While this may be true, "The Last Kiss" will certainly be remembered by both men and women as the first good relationship movie in a long time.
A rocking folk festival
By Alexis Egan | Sept. 19, 2006, midnight | In Entertainment »
Every year, thousands of visitors, tourists and Takoma Park natives come to Takoma Park's Folk Festival, a blend of flowing music, homemade crafts and irresistible food. Families come for the children section, adults for the music, and activists for the endless stands and their various causes. Though this year's festival, held on Sept. 19, had newer music than in previous years, it held the same allure as always.
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